theTravelogue

Smiles - Nepal 2012

The land of smiles. We often say that a problem is a “First World Problem” or a “Third World Problem”. Does it matter whether the problem lies in which part of the world? Problems will arise when and where they want and one problem is all it requires to send the rest of the great things crashing down at your feet. The fact that there is a first world problem like many of us cynically place problems in means that even in our “developed” nations, it is not any different from the rest of the world. We have problems. 

We can never be satisfied with the things that we have, be it money and pleasure. There is always more marketing in the world to get the cash out of you. You always have the cash to spend on the these things. I don’t have to say, but you know where I am going from here. 

For the past week as mentioned in the previous posts, my girlfriend fell ill and was in so much pain while I am away, miles and miles away from home and I was devastated about the fact that she is sick as well as me not being able to be there for her. I was often driven to a corner and to tears. When that happened, I was stripped down from my prideful self. Stripped by God to remind me of my worthlessness. I always believed that I was capable, but was told once again to be humble. So much for reading the bible, so much for trying to be humble, when things went my way, I went ahead and chucked God aside, slowly pushing him away. But once again, I really thank God for this issue or this challenge because it really strengthened us. You will be put down, you will be in pain but God will never leave you down in pain. Those that prayed for us, I thank you.

I know that smiling is not the exact thing that you would say when a loved one enters a hospital(yes, she is hospitalized due to Pneumonia). However, I really smile and give thanks to God I give thanks because the cause is found out. I give thanks because there is a cure. I give thanks because now she is in the care of professionals. Lastly, I give thanks because there was a lesson that was taught through the pain. 

One of the lessons that I think both of us learned is to trust God. It might sound easy to many of you, but I had to hold on to it like dear life. I was at a talk that reminded me to put down my pride and trust God, and I was at service which reminded me. I think this was one of the weeks where God placed more signs in my life and reminded me to trust him. After these talks and sermons, I was reminded to trust and I had a fiery passion to trust, once I reached home and I heard her in difficulty while sleeping and not being able to move around, *Splash* the fire was put out and thus I had to be reminded repeatedly. 

All I want to say after this long post is that to put your faith in him, and though it won’t be easy like mentioned in today’s Daily Bread, 

I know not, but God knows;
Oh, blessed rest from fear!
All my unfolding days
To Him are plain and clear. —Flint 

Lastly, just like love and any other feelings, they don’t come as fuzzy feelings like I always say. They come as opportunities. the opportunity to love, to trust and to hope. They never come easy. The greater the magnitude, the greater the obstacle to apply. Just as mentioned in Romans, Hope is free but it doesn’t come that easily. 

Romans 5

Peace and Hope 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Thank God and God Bless, 

Victor